Latch for doors.



G. W. WELLS.

LATCH FOR DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED nEc. 7. 1914.

1,184,49@ Patented May 23,1916.

GEQRG-E W. WELLS, F AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

LATGUH FOR DOORS.

Lisanne..

Specification of Letters llatent.l Pwgtgmntd may 239191@ Application filed December 7, 1914. Serial No. 875,880.

To'aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that GEORGE W. WELLS, .a citizen of the United States, residing at Amesbury, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew 4and useful Latch for Doors, of which the following is a specification;

The object of the invention is the provision' of a latch especially adapted for use in connection with a vehicle door and jamb, the latch bolt and means for releasing the same preferably being so combined with the door that a light pressure of the hand in grasping the door will release the bolt from the catch and allow the door to swing upon its hinges to an open position; andthe catch, the latch bolt and operating means in connection with the same being so constructed and combined that the door when closed will be automatically and securely latched in position.

The invention consists in certain novelties of construction and combinations of parts as herein set forth 'and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention in connecyso stantial changes in construction and in thel tion with a well known type of vehicle door, the same being constructed and applied according to the best mode of procedure so far devised for the purpose. However, the invention may be applied to other than vehicle doors and by other modes involving unsublocation of parts.

Figure l'is an enlarged view of the latch,

bolt releasing means, the bolt and the catch in elevation as seen3 when looking at the inner surface of the door, the casing for the latch bolt being invertical section and the door and jamb being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1 on a horizontal plane through the casing and a top I view of the catch and itsicasing, the latch bolt-being shown in its latched position.

Fig. 3 shows the latch bolt in an unlocked position.

Referring to thepfigures, the letter A designates a well known type of vehicle door, having hinges B B, an automatic latching mechanismC seatedlin thedoor, and a push button releasing means D projecting at the top edge of the'A door.

E designates the door jamb having the catch mechanism F seated therein and in line with the latch mechanism when the door is closed.

the bolt, a face wall 3 with a perforated eX` tension 4 to receive a screw, and the top and bottom wings 5 and 6, the said wings being united rby fixed pins 7, 8 and 9 and their rear ends provided with holes 10 and 11.

The latch bolt 12 is pivoted on pin 7 so it can rotate as far as the pin 8 which limits its travel. The bolt has a plane surface 13 and a curved surface 14 and it is pivotally connected by a link 15 to a lever 16, which latter is pivoted intermediate its ends to the pin 9, as shown. A spring 17 is looped, wound around the pin 9, the free ends located in Contact with the pin 8, and the looped end passed over the free end of lever 16 so the tension of the spring will hold the link 15 and the pivoted end of the lever in line, thus maintaining the latch bolt 12 so it cannot turn without breaking the joint. To provide for releasing the latch bolt a reciprocating rod or bar 18 having a. head 19 and a circular recess 20 with a beveled surface 21 which can act as a plunger is located in the holes 10 Vand 11 and held in place by a helical spring 22 having its top end secured in a slot in the rod or bar and its lower end engaging the top wing 5 of the casing. The free end of the lever` 16 normally bears against the beveled surface 21 within the recess 2O and the depression of the rod or bar 18 against the tension of the spring obviously will rotate the lever upon its pivot and cause the parts to occupy the relative positions shown by Fig. 3 which Vallow the latch bolt 12 to rotate on its pivot 'backwardly into the casing. The dotted lines through the pin 9 and the pivots which connect the link with the bolt and lever in Figs. 2 and 3 will make clear the latched and released positions of the bolt.

The bar or rod 18 can be moved by any suitable means, and in this instance a push rod 23 connects the bar 18 with a push button D located so it projects slightly above the top edge of the door. The button is seated within a socket 24: so it cannot be detached from the outside. Pressing upon the push button causes the parts to take the relative positions shown in Fig..8. Remove the pressure and spring 22 retracts the plun1 ger bar 18 so the parts will occupy the rela-x,

55 rectly engaging said element for holding one end and an opening 27 aty the opposite end through a uniting eyelet 28 ,a reciproeating bolt 29 with a head 30 within the openings in the casing, the bolt being threaded at the end 31 and provided with a nut; anda spring 32 upon the bolt and bearing against the flange 33 which is larger than thehole 26, thus limiting the outward movement of the head 30. This head has a plane surface 34 adapted to engage the plane surface of the latch bolt and a curved surface 35 adapted to engage the'curved surface of the latch bolt.

The hand being placed upon the push button releases the latch bolt and a slight pressure turns the door upon its hinges. Re-

moving the pressure upon the push button allows the spring to= secure the latch bolt, and uponswinging the door to a closedV position the rigid latch bolt strikes the head of the catch bolt and forcesl it back against the tension of the spring so the latch bolt can pass the catch bolt and the door become fastened. l v

While I have shown the latch mechanism on the door and the catch mechanism on the jamb, lthey may be oppositely located when ber and a stationary jamb member, a bolt, v

means including 'a movable element for normally holding said bolt rigidly in latch-l ing position, means for moving said element to released position, anda spring for holding said bolt yieldably in latching position` when said element is released and lfor re-J turning said element to normal position,

carried by one of said members, and means carried by the other of said members`engaging and operating to retract the bolt when the door is opened.

2. In a door latch, a bolt, means including a movable element for normally holding f said bolt rigidlyin latching position, means 'for moving said element to released position, and a spring coperatng withv and dithe bolt yieldably in latching position when said element is released andfor returning said element to normal position. y

3. Ina door latch, a movable door member and astat'ionary jamb member, a bolt,

means including a movable element for normally holding said bolt rigidly in latching position, means for moving said element to `released position, and a spring coperating ably in latching position when said element -is released and for returning said` element to normal position, carried by one of said members, and means carried by the other of said members engaging and operating to retract the bolt when the door is opened.

4. AIn a door latch, a bolt, means including a movable velement for.normally holding said bolt rigidly in latching position, said element being pivotally engaged with said bolt and movable pivotally toJ releasedposition, means for moving said element to released position, and a spring ooperating withand directly engaging said element for holding the bolt yieldably in latching position when said element is released and for returning said element to normal position.

`5. In `a vdoor latch, a movable door member and a stationary'vjamb member, a bolt, means including a movable element for normally holding said bolt rigidly in latching position, said element being pivotally en-,` y gaged with said bolt and movable pivotally to released position, means for moving said element to released position, and a spring cooperating with said element for holding the bolt yieldably in latching position when said elementris released and for'returning said element to normal position, carried by one of said members, and means carried by the other of said members engaging and `operating to, retract the bolt when the door is opened.

v6.l In a door latch, a bolt, means for holdingsaid bolt rigidly in latching position, including normally alined toggle levers one of which is pivotally engaged at its outer' end with said bolt, hand-operated means for bowing said levers upon their outer pivots as centers, and a` spring cooperating with said toggle` leversl for l holding the .bolt

yieldably in latching "position when said\y toggle levers are bowed and for returning said toggle levers to alined position. l

7. In a door latch, a movable door member and a stationary jam'b member, a bolt, means for holding said bolt rigidly in ylatching position, 'including ynormally alined dtoggle levers one of which is Apivotally engaged at its outer end with said bolt, handoperated means for bowing said levers upon thelr outer pivots as centers, and aspring coperating with said toggle levers for holding the bolt yieldably in latching position when. said toggle levers'are bowed and for returning said toggle levers to alined position, carried by one'of said members, and means carried by the other of said members engaging and operating to retract the latch when the door is opened.

8. In a door latch, a for holding said bolt rigidly in latching position including a stop, normally alined toggle levers and a spring'normally holding pivoted bolt, means r one of said levers against said stop, a hand.

ber and a stationary j amb member, a pivoted y bolt, means forholding said bolt rigidly in latching position including a stop', alined toggle levers and a spring normally holding one of said levers against said stop, and a hand-operated spring-pressed plunger engaging theother of said levers for bowing the levers away from said stop and putting the spring under greater tension to hold the bolt/,yieldably in latching position, carried by one of the members, and a spring-pressed catch carried by thel other of the members and engaging and operating to retract the bolt when the dooris opened, the spring acting/to restore the retracted bolt. and the toggle levers to normal position upon release of said plunger.

10. In a door latch, a pivoted bolt, means including a movable element pivotally engaged with said bolt at one side of the pivot thereof for normally holding the-bolt rigidly in latching position, means for moving said element to released position, and a spring for holding said bolt yieldably in latching position when said element is released and for returning said ele-ment to normal position.

11. Ina door latch, a movable door member and a. stationary jamb member, a pivoted bolt, means including a movable element pivotally engaged with said ,bolt at one side of the pivot thereof for normally holding the bolt rigidly in latching position, means for moving said element, to released position, and a spring for holding saidk bolt yieldably `in latching position when said element is released and for returning said element to normal position, carried by one of said members, and means carried by the other of the members engaging and operating to retract the bolt when the door is opened.

12. In a door latch, al pivoted bolt, means including ya movable element pivotally 'engaged with said bolt at one side of the pivot thereof for normally holding the bolt rigidly in latching position, means for moving said element to released position, and a spring cooperating with and directly engaging said element for holding the bolt yieldably in latching position when said element is released and for returning said element to nor-'- mal position. f

Y 13. In a door latch, a movable door member and a stationary jamb member, a pivoted bolt having a flat face and a beveled face,

means includingL a movable element pivotally engaged with said bolt at one sideof the pivot thereof for normally holding the bolt rigidly in latching position, means for moving said element to released position, and a spring cooperating with and directly engaging saidelem'ent for holding the bolt yieldably in latching position when said element is released and for returning said element to Vnormal position, carried by one of the members, and means carried by the other of said members including a head having a flat face and a beveled face engaging and operating to retract the bolt when the door is ff opened.

14. In a door latch,a pivotedl bolt, means for holding said bolt rigidly in latching position, including alined toggle levers one of which is pivotally engaged at its outer end with said bolt at one side of the pivot thereof, hand operated means for bowing said levers upon their outer pivots as centers,

vand a spring cooperating with and directly engaging said toggle levers for holding the bolt yieldably in latching position when said toggle levers are bowed and for. returning the A,toggle levers toalined position.

VIn testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

enonon w. wenns.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. WALKER, HENRY Minnen; 

